Desiree Rogers STEPPING DOWN Next Month

*Story being updated. Keep checking back*

White House Social Secretary Desiree Rogers is stepping down next month.

4:00PM:

"It's been a tremendous experience and honor to serve this president and first lady in what is really a historic presidency for all Americans but particularly for African-Americans," Rogers tells NYT's The Caucus. "That is part of the reason I came out to do the job."

Rogers is the first African-American to hold the position of White House Social Secretary.

She also told The Caucus that she had made the decision to resign in January after asking herself "What is going to make me the happiest?", and had not intended to make the announcement for some time. The news, however, leaked on Friday.

3:20PM:

The White House has released the following statement:

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

_______________________________________________________________________________________

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 26, 2010

Statement from the President and the First Lady on Desiree Rogers

"We are enormously grateful to Desiree Rogers for the terrific job she's done as the White House Social Secretary. When she took this position, we asked Desiree to help make sure that the White House truly is the People's House, and she did that by welcoming scores of everyday Americans through its doors, from wounded warriors to local schoolchildren to NASCAR drivers. She organized hundreds of fun and creative events during her time here, and we will miss her. We thank her again for her service and wish her all the best in her future endeavors."

3:00PM: ABC News is reporting that Democratic fundraiser Julianna Smoot is in the lead to take Rogers' place.

Smoot worked as national finance director for Obama's presidential campaign, and is currently U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk's chief of staff. Read more about Smoot here.

***
1:00PM
White House Social Secretary Desiree Rogers is stepping down next month.

"As we turn the corner on the first year," Rogers told Lynn Sweet of the Chicago Sun-Times, "this is a good time for me to explore opportunities in the corporate world."

A source close to Rogers tells Huffington Post that another factor in her upcoming departure may be mounting tension with White House senior adviser Valerie Jarrett. "Desiree has had enough and will leave because she's butting heads with Valerie," says the source.

Rogers, who has an MBA from Harvard, worked at Allstate Financial before she was appointed to Social Secretary in December 2008. She is a good friend of the Obamas.

She also told Lynn Sweet "When I took on this assignment, we talked about the importance of creating the people's house....I think I completed that work."

Her public image suffered after the Salahi/state dinner debacle.

Rogers had also come under attack for attending New York Fashion Week with Anna Wintour and making other high profile appearances.

Comments

[thomas e fuller]

03:58 PM on 03/12/2010

disarray rogers

[joyce628]

03:19 PM on 03/01/2010

I think that the people who are blaming Desiree Rogers for the president safety are either being hateful or just cannot think critically, or they are just being racist because an educated, black, classy, photogenic woman is the Social Secretary.

There is a protocal involved in inviting gust to WH events. After the names are selected for the original lists, the Secret Service do the necessary background checks. A second list is prepared of the vetted guests. The invitations are sent out in advance with ample time for a response. A final list is made based on those who have accepted the invitation. The Salais were not on the list at anytime. They tried to procure an invitation from a black lady over at the Pentagon which failed.

Members of the media had a list of the invited guests. The Secret Service had a list of the invited guests of which was used to check off the invited guests. According to Brian Willians (NBC), at the check point were he was, the Salais were turned away when the Secret Service could not find their names on the list. They went to another point of entry with their camara crew and were let in. THIS SCREW UP HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH D. ROGERS. This was a Secret Service foul up, and this trend has been going on since they have been protecting the black president. I will not even go their with all the guns at Obama's town hall meetings.

[FCorey]

04:12 PM on 03/16/2010

Joyce, I fully agree with you.
I never thought that racism would end with the election of Obama and I am not shocked at the Secret Service slacking up with a Black President, but the way people are drawing lines in the sand, with regards to race, are going to have repercussions for decades to come.

I am pretty disappointed she is resigning and I am sure the Cons are going to eat this up as Dems are jumping ship.

[Mark Szczygiel]

10:37 AM on 03/01/2010

Not sure about the MBA presidents either,

- Mark Szczygiel

[Dannydel]

09:33 AM on 03/01/2010

Having an MBA from Harvard and being pals with the First Lady isn't going to save you if you're just inept. And letting two boneheads get within feet of the President at the first big party you're supposed to be in charge of? Well, it does'nt get any dumber than that. Imagine if anything had happened to hiim...you're name would be a terrible verb in the postscript of history.

[b72s2jfk]

11:06 AM on 03/01/2010

Well, that adds a whole new meaning to "Crash-Guest Dummies", and its not just the Salahis' Im referring to. Seriously, Obama should let a out and loud flaming gay man to host future presidential events. Not only would Obama be safe, but it would be FAAABOUUULUUOOS!!

[HeavingBoosom]

12:01 PM on 03/01/2010

Rogers planned and coordinated 300 spectacular events for the White House. At one event, the Secret Services decides to waive in a couple of party crashers without checking to see if their names were on the list and this makes Rogers inept?

Sure. Anything you say.

[jean22]

07:12 PM on 02/28/2010

I'm sorry to hear that, but confused as to why this in the style section.

[stylembe]

05:41 PM on 02/28/2010

I am sure that she will be missed,

http://stylembe.wordpress.com/

[Peachie49]

11:37 AM on 02/28/2010

Not to worry, her successor can invite Osama bin Laden to the WH and the masses will not say a word. If you look, who are the persons being displaced----Jessie Jackson, Jr., the CBC, Gov Patterson,--while the Gov of South Carolina with his philandering, adulturous behavior remains in power unscathed. It's clear where this country is heading.

[XCITIZEN]

01:06 AM on 02/28/2010

Maybe she was just becoming too much of a style/image maven, or something, and wasn't keeping a low enough profile, and so she got caught up in the spin control at the White House.

[alreadybad]

11:38 AM on 03/01/2010

Ok, the WH has a very thick book on protocol, someone clearly needs to read it. The next person ought to be tested on it.

[ECB]

04:25 PM on 02/27/2010

Why is this in the Style section ?

[jukesgrrl]

09:45 PM on 02/27/2010

Very good question! The fact that HuffPost places this news here indicates the typical lack of understanding of the social secretary's responsibilities. The news better belongs in the World or Politics sections.

As you are no doubt aware, it's a position crucial to our nation's image abroad as well as the president's personal image. Social secretary is not a figurehead job that can be casually awarded to a friend in thanks for service to the campaign. I would hope the administration knows that by now.

[oniya]

07:20 PM on 02/28/2010

I have no problem with friends being hired, as long as they know how to do the job. Miss Desiree was fantastic at it. That's much more than can be said about our former president and his friends (anyone remember Brownie of the FEMA fiasco during Hurrican Katrina?).

[janha]

03:56 PM on 02/27/2010

She seemed to have lost sight of what her job was in the WH.

[missmary]

03:07 PM on 02/27/2010

Her 15 minutes of fame was 3 months overdue.

[PlanoBlue]

08:16 PM on 02/27/2010

She is a very classy lady. I wish her the best in her future endeavors. You, however, I wish for barnacles to grow on your @ss.

[Alsop123]

09:58 PM on 02/27/2010

No doubt she is classy , however she forgot she was the social secretary , not one of the honored guests . She took her eye of the ball. Be careful what you wish for...those barnacles may grow on your neither parts as well.

[missmary]

12:33 AM on 02/28/2010

I am sure you are a very classy person, too.........................your comments reflect that!

[stylembe]

02:43 PM on 02/27/2010

Wow - Huge blow to Michelle.

http://stylembe.wordpress.com/

[CateManhattan]

07:02 PM on 02/27/2010

However would it be any blow to Michelle? Staff change all of the time -- and Desiree will get a big pay increase in the next job she lands. You and the press haven't anything else to carp on.

[JKPHILLY]

09:51 AM on 03/01/2010

How is this a blow for Michelle?

[REGONE]

02:08 PM on 02/27/2010

I wonder will she go out on a date with me since she's free? I find her very attractive!

[ebanks84]

01:51 PM on 02/27/2010

Michele1921 and Sebestu are here today to cause more divisiveness and show racial hate. I suggest we do not give them any power to proceed on because they aren't going to respond anyway. They just want to put another notch on their belts. And since they have no fans, they are probably regular tro//s who decided to show their true selves by starting anew to get dramatic responses.

The best they will get from me is THE TRUTH. No more and no less. Just prepare yourself for them and never give up your power to them!

[3]

02:01 PM on 02/27/2010

It's called 'free speech.' It even protects the clueless, classless, and under educated. If you let them, they will make all of your points for you.

[ebanks84]

02:07 PM on 02/27/2010

And more if you give them the opportunity. There's nothing wrong with free speech. But there is much wrong with hate speech.

[chitown8]

01:32 PM on 02/27/2010

Desiree I have been you fan since 1991 when you was over the Illinois Lottery. My granny told me "Baby that sister is goin places" I have been your fan since. I had the honor of meeting you in 1997 at the young women conference at the Hyatt on Wacker. You are a blessing to all women that struggle and work hard to get ahead. We in Chicago can not wait until you come back. We look forward to your next endeavors.

[Dannydel]

09:40 AM on 03/01/2010

Ms. Rogers should probably start a spelling and english course for some of her fans.

[hulagirrrl]

12:04 PM on 03/01/2010

Ever heard of not looking down on people unless you are reaching out to help them up??